Webber Labelled a Champion of the Future

Jaguar boss Tony Purnell has backed the team's driver Mark Webber to become a sensation at Williams next year and claims the Australian is a World Champion in the making.

Webber, who has spent the last two years with Jaguar after making his debut for Minardi in 2002, is expected to take the fight to current title holder Michael Schumacher when he finally joins a front running team.

And Purnell said: "For me, Mark is the best driver a team could have. He is quick, professional, sensible, serious - I see him as a World Champion. He has got the mind of a Champion.

"It doesn't matter if the chips are down, he gives his best always and his best is pretty damn good. I wish him well at Williams and I have a feeling that one day Mark is going to be the man."

Webber finished his time at Jaguar midway through the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday when he retired after colliding with teammate Christian Klien and Purnell added: "For Mark to go out that way is awful."

The Australian has so far failed to score the points to back up his much talked about talents. He has yet to better the fifth place finish he scored on his debut with Minardi, and he took his points' tally to 26 with just seven points this season in a disappointing end to the team's five years in the sport.

He will begin testing with Williams in November but he is keeping one eye on the sale of Jaguar in the hope that Ford will find a buyer before they have to close the team down.

"The team has been very good for me and I've been very lucky," Webber said. "I've been very lucky throughout my career after Minardi coming here and I've got a Williams seat on the back of this.

"Every time I walk past the Minardi garage I go and say 'hi' to the guys, and that is something that will be a big hole if these (Jaguar) guys are not here any more.

"Now we've got a long winter ahead and Melbourne (the first race in 2005) will be here very quickly, so we've got a lot of work to do. Williams is about winning and the winter is bloody important."